Valley River Center to break ground on Dick's House of Sport

Valley River Center will break ground this spring on a roughly 100,000-square-foot, two-level DICK’S House of Sport that will replace the mall’s northeast plaza, Macerich announced in an early March release. The real estate investment trust said site work is expected to begin in spring 2026 and that the immersive, large-format store is projected to open in about two years, a timetable other outlets have reported as 2028.

Macerich framed the project as an investment in Eugene and a way to “reinforce the mall’s role as a community gathering space,” describing the format as experiential retail. “The store format reflects the brand’s shift toward experiential retail by offering in-store product engagement partnered with digital collaborations,” the company’s release said. Melissa Freas, senior vice president of leasing at Macerich, said, “We are so excited to announce the upcoming addition of DICK’S House of Sport and the remodel of Regal Cinemas. These additions and changes will further expand our shopping and entertainment options for everyone in our community.”

House of Sport locations emphasize hands-on testing and performance tracking, and Valley River’s planned footprint will include an outdoor field, a full-scale climbing wall, multiple golf simulation bays equipped with TrackMan, and multi-sport cages powered by HitTrax for baseball, softball and soccer. The Register-Guard noted the concept launched in 2021 and described it as offering programming such as sports clinics and community events, saying that House of Sport locations are known for “their commitment to local programming, including hosting sports clinics and community events that bring families and athletes together, aligning seamlessly with Valley River Center’s longstanding focus on community engagement.”

The announcement also includes a concurrent remodel of Regal Cinemas at Valley River Center: Macerich and Register-Guard reports say recliner seating will be added to all 15 theaters and 14 non-IMAX projectors will be upgraded to laser projectors this year, an enhancement framed alongside the new anchor as part of a broader mall refresh.

Valley River Center’s leasing activity has already shown recent momentum. Miniso opened in October 2025 and fashion retailer Lovisa is slated to open in spring 2026, details Macerich cited when positioning the center as “Eugene’s leading shopping and entertainment destination.” Freas added, “For nearly 60 years, Valley River Center has been at the heart of Eugene, and we’re proud to continue building on that legacy, bringing new energy, new experiences, and more memories for our community.”

One unresolved item is the future of the existing Dick’s Sporting Goods at 1030 Green Acres Road in the Delta Oaks shopping area. The Register-Guard reported media representatives for Dick’s did not respond to requests about whether that store will close or be consolidated into the Valley River location. Macerich provided the timeline and renderings with its March announcement; construction contractor names, permit filings and a firm opening month remain to be confirmed as site work moves forward.